One of the most stressful parts of applying to college may be the application process. This article covers the different portions of the admission application and provides some helpful tips that may reduce a student's anxiety.
The College Coach Website defines a college application as, 'a comprehensive summary of a student's entire high school career, encompassing all of the student's triumphs and challenges, wrapped up in a single package to be viewed by complete strangers.' Honestly, that's what the college application really is. If it seems frightening at first, all you may need are some simple tips that may help you get over your application anxiety.
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Many colleges will want you to fill out the transcript section of the admission application and have you send them an official transcript from your school for confirmation. This section usually asks you about your classes, grades, AP test scores, SATs scores or ACT scores, sports, community service activities, leadership positions, and jobs. You may want to make several copies of your application to use as practice before filling out the real document. This tip may help you avoid using white out to cover up mistakes, thus, making your application look more professional. All of the information that you put on this application should be accurate and honest. You may also want to speak to your counselor about any questions you may have. Your counselor might be willing to check over one of your drafts to see if you have filled the form out correctly.
Personal Statement
Another important aspect of your admissions application is your personal statement, which is usually an essay on a given prompt that often asks you to describe yourself, your mentor, or a significant moment. The College Board website recommends being specific in your essay because 'essays that try to be too comprehensive end up sounding watered-down.' You may also want to try to use a lot of details to make your story come alive. Try to avoid generalities and instead use specifics to help your audience better understand what you're saying.
Your topic doesn't have to be something that extraordinary. (However, if you do have an extraordinary topic, why not use it?) Your topic simply has to mean something to you. If it means something to you, then it'll probably be easier to make your audience care about it also.
Letters of Recommendation
Some universities and colleges require students to send letters of recommendations along with the other sections of the application. They often don't like you to use personal references like your mom or dad. You may want to try asking a teacher, a coach, or a manager to write you a letter of recommendation. Despite whom you may ask, you may want to make sure that you give the person enough time to write a good letter--keep in mind they have prior obligations of their own. The College Board suggests giving the person at least 2 weeks before you need to send it out if you could give them even more time than that would be even better.
When choosing someone, you may want to pick a person who has known you for awhile and has seen you improve. You may also want to provide them with some extra information that might help them have a better sense of you like part-time jobs, some family background, and any challenges in your life.
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